Senior Project Manager (Recovery and Rebuild)

About the Position

We’re seeking a Senior Project Manager to support large, complex heavy civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (bus and rail), aviation (international airports), and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. Your main focus will be carrying assigned capital projects for a public infrastructure rebuild program from early scoping through design, agency approvals, construction, and final acceptance, and keeping street, water, sewer, and storm drain work aligned so the rebuilt systems come back online as one connected network.

This is a long-term, full-time, on-site position located in Los Angeles, CA.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee assigned capital projects from early scoping and capital planning through design, agency approvals, construction, and final acceptance and closeout.
• Establish and hold the baseline for scope, cost, and schedule on each project, and report status, trends, and forecasts to program leadership.
• Guide the consultants preparing feasibility studies, conditions assessments, and construction documents, and review their deliverables for completeness and conformance before they advance.
• Align street, water, sewer, and storm drain work across related projects so the systems are planned, sequenced, and built as one connected network.
• Sequence early-phase and construction activities with utility owners, regulatory and permitting agencies, and neighboring jurisdictions, and keep approvals and agreements from holding up the work.
• Convene working sessions with the project team, agency staff, and the public, and document decisions and follow-up actions.
• Analyze contractor requests for information, proposals, and change requests for merit, cost, and time impact, negotiate fair pricing and schedule relief, and draft the resulting contract modifications.
• Oversee construction progress, confirm that completed work and payment requests match the contract documents, and support acceptance, turnover, and closeout.
• Maintain project records that stand up to funding, reimbursement, and audit review, including cost and eligibility documentation for disaster-related funding.
• Keep the client and project team aligned on what will be delivered, when, and at what cost, and work through issues and risks as they surface.

Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills.
• Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
• Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Steady under shifting priorities and quick to work through issues as they surface.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, architecture, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Active professional license (Professional Engineer or licensed architect) or Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification.
• 10+ years of project management experience, including managing projects through programming, design, permitting, construction, and closeout.
• Track record of carrying projects end to end, from early scoping through design, agency approvals, construction, and final acceptance, as the single point of accountability for scope, cost, and schedule.
• Experience reviewing and coordinating the preparation of feasibility studies, conditions assessments, and construction documents.
• Experience aligning street, water, sewer, and storm drain work so related systems are delivered as one connected network.
• Experience sequencing early-phase and construction activities with utility owners, regulatory and permitting agencies, and neighboring jurisdictions, and convening project team, agency, and public meetings.
• Experience evaluating and negotiating contract changes and drafting the resulting modifications.
• Experience with industry standard project / construction management software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project, Unifier, Kahua, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, or architecture.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (Project Management Institute).
• 15+ years of project management experience.
• Experience delivering capital projects within a recovery program following a declared disaster.
• Working knowledge of federal and state disaster funding eligibility and cost documentation requirements (e.g., FEMA Public Assistance, Cal OES).
• Experience with large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects that include highways, roads, bridges, transit (including rail and bus), and/or airport projects.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent capital projects.
• Experience in an owner’s representative, program management, or construction management capacity for a city, county, or other public agency.
• Working knowledge of California public works contracting, permitting, and environmental review requirements (e.g., CEQA).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Compensation Details

Expected Salary: $130k-$190k/year ($62-$91/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer for this position based on the successful candidate’s level of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certifications, licenses, geographic location, etc. Luster reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range depending on circumstances not related to any status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Just LOOK at the Benefits We Offer!

• Unlimited flexible time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
• Formal career planning and development program
• $2,500 annually toward professional development
• Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
• Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
• Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
• Free personal financial planning services
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee referral bonus

Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer. #IN-LNJS